South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Super September Weekend: family fun, emergency rescues and a 5k charity run.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are taking over Cardiff Bay from 28th – 30th September, hosting one of the UK’s largest rescue challenge event, the very first Tunnel to Towers 5k family walk/run and staging a Super Safety Village packed full of activities and entertainment for all the family.

On the 28th and 29th the prestigious United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) Caerdydd Challenge will see more than 600 of the UK’s most skilled firefighters compete in staged rope rescues, water rescues, vehicle rescues and urban search and rescue contests in and around the Roald Dahl Plass. With SWFRS already boasting the World and UK Extrication Champions through their Bridgend Team, there is a lot at stake in this hotly contested competition with a range of national trophies and titles up for grabs.

On Sunday 30 September the Service will host the very first Tunnel to Towers 5k run and walk, organised by SWFRS’ very own Firefighter Fundraising Team based at Cardiff Central Station. Originating in New York in honour of Firefighter Stephen Siller who gave his life to save others on September 11, 2001 at the Twin Towers, it is now held across the world and honours the dedication and sacrifice of all emergency service personnel.

This is the first time the event has been held in Wales and is open to all ages. All funds raised will support the Stephen Siller Foundation and the Fire Fighters Charity.

Running from Friday to Sunday the Service will also stage a huge programme of family friendly activities at the SWFRS Super Safety Village in and around the Roald Dahl Plass. With multiple partners, including South Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Service, members of Water Safety Wales, Techniquest and Sports Cardiff joining in, visitors can enjoy Virtual Reality driving simulators, walk-in hockey, police dog demonstrations, Techniquest workshops including hand held fire balls and steam ignition as well as choirs, dance, theatre and a display by the Red Devils Parachute Regiment Freefall Team.

Inside the Wales Millennium Centre Friday and Saturday until 2:00pm will be a special kid’s zone full of activities. These include; ‘Mud and Sparks’ a chance to experience and learn more about fire and fire behaviours around our indoor campfires, plus a giant Snakes and Flames board games for teams or individuals and craft activity.

Free workshops will look at the elements including Air Powered Boat Races exploring water safety, seed balls looking at environmental awareness and pyro writing exploring the safe use of fire, provide by educational community company EggSeeds there will also be a special bubble bike exploring the physics of air flow.

There will also be the chance for younger visitors to test our firefighter kit and try out some of our SWFRS jobs, working alongside our Water Rescue and Control Room teams and meeting our young Fire Cadets.

SWFRS Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway said, “We are extremely proud to host the UKRO Challenge for 2018 and look forward to welcoming participants and supporters from across the world to Cardiff Bay this September. As a service we are as passionate about learning development as we are for making South Wales a safer place, with the rescue challenges and the Safety village, there will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to learn a little and leave safer!”

The UKRO Challenge is unrivalled for showcasing the incredible skill and commitment of global-wide emergency service personnel, replicating real-life emergency scenarios in disciplines such as: Vehicle Extrication, Trauma Care, Urban Search and Rescue, Rope Rescue and Water Rescue and visitors will be able to see this in action across the Cardiff Bay area.

Following the completion of the challenge days, the Tunnel to Towers walk will be a great way to round off the event. This 5k walk or run is open to all the family and will see Firefighters taking part in full kit. For more information and to sign up please visit: www.tunnel2towerswales.com.

All activities in the Super Safety Village and across the site will be entirely free and activities will be running from 10:00 until 17:00 each day.

The event runs from 28th – 30th September in the Roald Dahl Plass, Wales Millennium Centre and surrounding areas. For full details on all the events and activities please visit: